Lid



6. a. DOREY Aug. 11; 1942.

LID

Filed Jan. 29, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet lv Aug. 11, 1942.-

a. a. DOR'EY LID 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. '29, 1940 i atented Aug. ll, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICIEF LID George B. D'orey, Westmount, Quebec, Canada Application January 29, 1940, serial'No. 316,110 Claims. (01. 308-47) My invention relates to an imprdved lid of the type usually employed as closures for railway journal box openings. a} a j I An objectof "my invention is to provide atwo piece lid assembly in which a spring'is utilized to actuate the lid and to provide means for equalizing the spring pressure between the two parts of the lid assembly. v v I V V i Another object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement of spring means forthe lid of a journal box having a spring retainer pivoted to the box and a cover movably associated with the retainer whereby the spring may be tensioned through the medium of a lever and to provide means acting on the lever to maintain the spring in retracted position during assembly of the lid and box. i V

A more specific object of my invention is'to provide a lid assembly which will include a spring retainer for the pivotal mounting of the lid on an associated member and a lid proper movably associated with the retainer in such a manner as to provide for angling of the lid proper relatively to the retainer.

My invention further resides in certain immovements and detail of parts, such as will be pointed out hereinafter and claimed.

For further comprehension of my invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings wherein: V V

Fig. l is a vertical elevational view of a journal box showing my improved lid construction ap plied thereto. v i

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view of the lid taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken through the lid assembly and on a line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross sectional view showing the spring retainer in section as detached from the lid assembly, said section corresponding substantially to a line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken through the retainer and spring assembly, said view being taken on a line corresponding substantially to a line 5-5 of Fig. 2. r V

Fig. 6 is a vertical side elevational view of the box showing the spring retainer in open position. The said view shows the spring structure positioned with the equalizing lever and spring in non-tensioned position and with a removable operating lever positioned in readiness to effect the spring tensing operation.

Fig. 'l is ayiew similar to Fig. 6 and showing the spring in fully tensioned position and mainretainer thus presents a tained in retracted position by means of a temporary holding pin; a

Referring now to the drawings, a portionof the journal box [0 is shown as having spaced side walls ll-ll united by a transversely extending top wall [2 and lower curved wall l3, said walls H, I2. and I3 co-dperating to present an opening I4. Extending upwardly from the central porticn o'fthe top wall l2is a-hingelug I5 apertured for the recepticnof lid pivot l6 whereby the lid assembly mounted on the box. 1

The lid assembly includes a lid proper H, a spiing retainer [8 pivotally mounted on the box lug l5 by pivot l6 and also pivotally united with the lid proper by means of pin I 9, a spring 20 and an equalizing 1ever 2|.

The lid proper I1 is preferably of generally flat plate formation having downturned flanges 22 extending substantially around the entire box open ing. At the 1ow'er edge of the lid there is alip 23 by means of which the lid may be readily handled for opening or closing operations. The body of the lid isreinforced by a substantially V shaped corrugation 24 which extends continuously within and parallel to the four edges of the box opening and presents a rectangular truncate shaped embossment 25.. A lid connecting lug in the form of a U shaped loop member26 is disposed above the embossr'nent and riveted to the body or the lid as indicated at 126, said loop member is extended above the face of the lid and presents an elongated slotted hearing 'within which the pin 19 extends. The said member 25 is formed with an upper portion of arcuate shape and preferably formed concentrically with the axis of pivot l9 toprese'nt a curved outer bearing surface 21. v

The spring". retainer [8 is preferably in the form of a housing having a pair of spaced Walls 28-28 united by a front wallsection 29. Extending lateralljy from the side walls at the upper portion of the retainer are hinging ears 3!] through which the pivot 16 extends. At the lower end ofthe retainer the front wall 29 is cut away and the bifurcated lower portion which straddles the lug portion 26 of the lid.

At-the lower end of the bifurcated portions, the walls 28 are each apertured at El for the passage of pin l9 and extending inwardly laterally from the walls 28 are slotted sleeve sections 32 which in effect are slotted bearings for the hinge pin I9. The inner contour of the slots at one end corresponds in shape and alinement with the contour'of the aperture 3| and the opposite end of the slots extends below the aperture 3| thereby presenting a pocket having an end wall section 33 at each end. The pin l9 is inserted through one of the apertures 3| and gravitates to the closed end of the slots where it is secured against unauthorized withdrawal by the end walls 33.

The retainer front wall 29 is formed with a concave seat 34 for the reception of the coiled portions 35-35 of the spring 20. On the inner side of the wall 29 and to one side of the seat 34 there is formed an integral bracket portion which is preferably of angle shape and presents a downwardly extending wall 36 and a lever seat 31, the latter being slightly curved as indicated at 38. The walls 36 and 31 are braced relatively to each other and to the concave seat 34 by means of a rib 39.

The hinging ears 30 are formed with elongated recesses and at the outer end of each ear there is a wall section 40 at one end of the recess and an opening 4| at the opposite end of the recess, the latter corresponding substantially to the shape, of pivot I6 whereby said pivot may be in serted through the opening 4| and thereafter rest in the lower end of the elongated recesses and be there retained by the tension of the spring 20. The pivot 5, when positioned in the lower portion of the recesses, is secured against lengthwise movement by the vertical wall sections 40.

The spring 20, sion type and formed of spring wire, includes a pair of coiledportions 3535 and arm portions leading in opposite directions from said coils as indicated at 42 and 43 respectively. The arm portion 42 which extends upwardly towards the hinge lug of the box is preferably in the form of a loop and has an antifriction roller 44 mounted thereon and the opposite arm section 43 includes the two ends of the spring which lead downwardly from the outer ends of the coils towards the center of the lid and are bent to present inwardly extending trunnion portions 45. Said trunnion portions 45 are preferably disposed at an appreciable distance from the hinge pin l9 and the distance between the said trunnion portions and the bearing surface 21 is bridged by the equalizing lever 2|, said lever 2| being pivotally mounted on the trunnions 45.

The member 2| is preferably formed from a plate to present a flat body portion 46 reinforced by downturned side flanges 41 which co-operate with the body portion of the member to present a U-shaped formation. The body portion is apertured at 48 and the edges of said aperture are reinforced on three sides by flanges as at 49 and 50, said aperture being for the purpose of receiving a suitable operating lever whereby the lever 2| may be readily moved against the spring pressure. The side flanges 4'! are apertured at for the reception of the trunnion portions 45 and the said flanges terminate inwardly of the lid lug 23 to avoid interference with the latter. The flat body portion 46 rests on the curved. surface 38 of the lever seat 3'! and also on the curved surface 21 of the lid lug 26 and thus operates to apply the spring tension on both the retainer and the lid proper.

The tensioning of the spring is accomplished after the retainer has been pivotally mounted on the hinge lug and prior to the pivotal assembly of the retainer and lid proper. In the mounting of the lid assembly the retainer is first pivotally mounted on the lug and with the retainer in the fully opened position as indicated in Fig. 6

the spring and equalizing lever are positioned as which is preferably of the torshown with the roller 44 against the lug and equalizing lever in contact with the retainer fulcrum seat after which a removable lever 52 is inserted in the aperture 48 and maintained at an angle to the main body of the member by reason of the lever 52 bearing on the edge of flange 50.

The removable lever 52 is then moved in an anti-clockwise direction imtil such time as the parts are substantially in the position shown in Fig. 7 when the spring and equalizing lever are temporarily maintained in such positions by means of a holding pin 53. The pin 53 rests in depressions formed on the face of the bifurcated portions of the retainer and these depressions form chairs which effectively retain the pin against displacement even when the spring pressure is fully exerted on the member 2|. With the spring thus held in retracted position, the lid proper is positioned with the lug 26 located between the pair of retainer arms and the elongated opening of the lug 26 alined with the apertures 3| of the retainer after which the pin I9 is inserted through the respective members. A suitable prying tool is then inserted between surface 27 of thelid lug and the undersurface of member 2| and sufiicient pressure exerted to relieve the'pin 53 of the spring tension .after which the said holding pin 53 is easily removed permitting lever 2| to bear directly on surface 21 of the lid lug.

The pressure exerted by the arm 43 of the spring acting through lever 2| has the effect of forcing the lid and. retainer apart and forcing the pin I9 in the extremities of the slotted bearings of the respective lid members and into alincment with the vertical wall sections 33.

The arrangement provides for relative angular movement between the retainer and the lid permitting adjustment of the latter to compensate for irregularities in manufacture and allows the lid to seat evenly around the four edges of the opening. Perfect angling movement between the retainer and the lid is assured by reason of the curved surface 38 on the lever seat which permits of limited rocking action between the lever 2| and the retainer in a direction at right angles to the direction of rotation of the lid about its axis of rotation. The inner upper surface of the lug lid 26 is also preferably curved as indicated at 56 to correspond with the curved hearing surface 38 of theretainerk In this manner the lever 2| has an extended, ngth of bearing surface with the lid and the lid and lever 2| may angle in unison to the extent permitted by the curved bearing seats 38 and 56. Relative pivotal movement about the axis of pivot |9 is limited in one directionby the side walls'28 of the retainer in combination with a laterally extending flange 51 extending from each. of. the side walls 28 and movement in theopposite di-v rection is limited by lugs 58 which leaddownwardly from the hinge ears 30 and are braced relatively thereto by braces 59. The lid. proper is provided with extensions 60 which seat on the lugs 58. H

The employment of a lever member to equalize the spring pressure between the retainer and the lid provides forstability between the'parts and prevents undue rattling of the lid even when the assembly is in the open position. The employment of alever for the end of the spring facilitates the application of the lid and the .tensioning of the spring is easily and rapidly carried out and withouttheuseof special tools other than asmall lever and an ordinary heavy nail,

I hinge lug at one side of the The renewal of a spring, which sometimes becomes necessary on account of breakage or loss of resiliency, is a very simple matter with my improved construction and removal is merely a reversal of the procedure described in connection with the spring tensioning operatidn, the initial step being the insertion of a prying tool between surface 21 of the lid lug and the undersuriace of member 2| to relieve the spring pressure from the lid and permit the insertion of the pin 53. The multiplied leverage action resulting from the fulcruming of the lever on a seat formed on the retainer removes the difficulties usually associated with the tensioning operation of the spring and therefore permits the use of a high load capacity spring.

While I have' shown a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that the same is subject 'to various modifications and I claim all variations coming within the scope of the claims appended thereto.

What I claim is:

1. A lid assembly for a journal box having an opening at one side thereof and having a hinge lug at one side of the opening, said assembly including a spring retainer pivoted to the box lug and a lid proper movably associated with the retainer adjacent the center of the opening; and a spring resiliently interposed between the spring retainer and the box lug and having an arm extending towards the center of the lid; and an equalizing member supporting the said arm por tion and bearing on the retainer and lid proper;

2. A two piece lid assembly for application to a container having an opening and having a hinge lug adjacent one side of the opening, said assembly including a retainer pivotally mounted on the lug and a lid proper pivotally associated with the retainer at an appreciable distance from the lug member; a, spring for urging the lid assembly to closed position, said spring having an intermediate portion bearing on the retainer and oppositely extending arms leading away from said intermediate portion, one of said arms bearing on the lug and the other arm portion leading towards the center of the lid and terminating an appreciable distance away from the connection between the retainer and the lid; and a lever bearing on the retainer and on the lid proper, said lever forming a support for the last named arm of the spring and spanning the distance from the terminus of the spring arm to the point of connection between the retainer and lid proper.

3. A two piece lid assembly for application to a journal box having a hinge lug, said assembly including a retainer pivoted to the lug and a lid pivoted to the retainer, said lid having a hinge lug centrally disposed thereon and said retainer being bifurcated to present an arm at each side of the lid lug; a pintle extending through the arms of the retainer and the lid lug; and a spring structure operatively interposed between the retainer and box lug, said spring structure having an intermediate portion bearing on the retainer and oppositely extending arm portions leading therefrom, one of said arms bearing on the box lug and the other arm leading towards the lid lug; and a lever pivotally associated with the last named arm and bearing on the retainer and lid respectively.

4. A two piece lid assembly for application to a journal box having an opening therein and a opening, said assembly including a retainer pivotally mounted on the lug and a lid pivotally associated with th retainer, said lid having a hinge lug arid the retainer having arms straddling the lid lug, said ret'ainer and lid lug having transversely alined openings; a pintle extending through the openingsj and a spring structure resiliently interposed between the retainer and the box lug, said 'spring structure including a torsion spring having an intermediate coil portion bearing onthe retainer and arm portionsextending in opposite directions towards thebox lug and lid lug respectively, said last named arm portion consisting of a pair of ends leading away towards thelid lug from the ends of the coil portion, said ends of the spring having inwardlyextending laterally projecting trunnion portions; a lever pivotally associated with thesaid trunnion portions and bearing on the retainer and lid lug respectively; and means for retaining the lever in retracted position away from the lid and in fixed relation to the retainer, said means including pockets on the arms of the spring retainer for supporting a removable pin between the spring retainer and lever.

5. A two piece lid assembly for application to a journal box having an opening and a hinge lug at one side or the opening, said assembly including a retainer pivotally mounted on the lug and a lid pivotally. associated with th retainer; a-tors'ion spring interposed between the retainer and the lug, said spring having a pair of coil portions bearing on the retainer and arms leading in opposite directions from said coils, one of said arms extending outwardly towards the lug and engaging therewith and the other arm consisting of a pair of ends leading from the outer ends of the coil portions inwardly towards the center of the lid, said ends each having an inwardly laterally extending trunnion portion; a lever engaging with the said trunnion portions, said lever at one end engaging with the retainer and having the opposite end bearing on the lid; and a curved lever-seat on the retainer forming a bearing for the lever, said seat being curved to provide a rocking action for the lever in a direction substantially at right angles to the pivotal axis of the lid. 7 A V I a 6. A two piece lid assembly for application to a journal box having an opening and a hinge lug at one side of the opening, said assembly including a retainer pivoted to the lug and a lid pivoted to the retainer; a torsion spring having an intermediate coil section bearing on the retainer and arm portions leading in opposite directions from said coil section, one of said arms extending outwardly towards the box lug and engaging therewith and the other of said arm portions extending inwardly towards the lid for applying pressure on the lid, said last named arm portion including the two ends of the spring leading in spaced relation from the ends of the coil section, said spring ends having laterally inwardly extending trunnion portions; a lever pivotally associated with the trunnion portions, said lever including a substantially flat body portion and side flanges at each side of the body portion, said flanges having apertures therein for the reception of the spring trunnion portions, said lever bearing on the retainer and lid respectively; curved bearing seats on the retainer and lid respectively on which the lever bears, one of said curved seats permitting rocking action of the lever in a direction at right angles to the pivotal mounting of the lid and the other permitting relative rotation between the lever and lid about the axis of the pivotal mounting of the lid on the retainer.

7. In a journal box lid assembly for application to a journal box having a hinge lug, said lid assembly including a retainer pivoted to the lug and a lid proper movably associated with the retainer; spring means for maintaining the lid assembly in closed position, saidsprin m s having bearing contact with the retainer and oppositely extending arms leading from said bearing with the retainer, one of said arms extending outwardly towards the box lug and engaging therewith and the other arm extending towards the lid for applying pressure thereon; a lever engaging with the last named arm, said lever bearing on the retainer and lid respectively; and a seat on the retainer on which the lever is adapted to bear, said seat being curved in a direction to permit rocking movement between the lever and retainer in a direction substantially at right angles to th pivotal axis of the lid assembly.

8. A lid assembly for a journal box having an opening and a hinge lug adjacent one side of the opening, said assembly including a retainer pivoted to the hinge lug and a lid pivoted to the retainer for limited pivotal movement; a spring structure resiliently interposed between the hinge lug and the retainer, said spring having an intermediate portion bearing on the retainer and oppositely extending arms leading from said intermediate portion, one of said arms extending outwardly towards the hinge lug and engaging therewith and the other of said arms extending towards the center of the lid, for applying pressure thereon; a lever engaging with the last named arm, said lever bearing on the retainer and lid respectively; said spring being tensioned by movement of the lever engaging arm of the spring through th medium of the lever before the lid is applied to the retainer; and means for retaining the spring and lever in retracted position in relation to the retainer, said retaining means including seats on the retainer at each side of the lever for receiving and holding a removable pin in the path of releasing movement of the lever.

9. A lid assembly for a journal box having an opening at one side thereof and a'hinge lug at one side of the opening, said assembly including a retainer pivoted to the hinge lug and a lid connected to th retainer; a spring structure resiliently interposed between the hinge lug and retainer, said spring having an intermediate portion bearing on the retainer and oppositely extending arms leading from said intermediate portion, one of said arms extending towards the hinge lug and engaging therewith and the other of said arms extending towards the connection between the retainer and lid, said last named arm of the spring proper terminating at an appreciable distance from the lid and retainer connection; and a rigid extension bridging the distance between the said spring arm and the lid and retainer connection, said extension having bearing contact with the lid at a location adjacent the lid and retainer connection; and means for retaining said rigid member in retracted position against the spring tension and away from the lid to permit assembly of the lid and retainer.

10. In a lid assembly for a journal box having an opening at one side thereof and a hinge lug at one side of the opening, said assembly including a retainer pivoted to the lug and a lid proper movably associated with the retainer for limited universal movement; a spring structure resiliently interposed between the retainer and hinge lug, said spring structure having an intermediate section bearing on the retainer and arms leading in opposite directions therefrom, one of said arms engaging the hinge lug and the other arm leading towards the connection between the retainer and lid, said last named arm terminating an appreciable distance away from the lid connection; and a rigid member bridging the distance between the terminus of the last named spring arm and the lid connection, said rigid member bearing on the lid proper adjacent the lid connection; and means for retaining the said rigid member in retracted position away from the lid, said means including seating means on the retainer for supporting a removable pin between the spring retainer and the rigid member.

GEORGE B. DOREY. 

